That is a very good question and i get asked it all the time. For me i was introduced to it when i was resurching to get a great dane, i had herd that feeding raw not only can have extrodinary health benefits but can also almost eliminat the chance of blote (flipping of the stomace) which is one of the larg killers of Danes. That sparked my interest and i started digging. There is so much info out there that it is very easy to get overwelmed and confused and you never know who to beleave. most people get to that point and revert to what they know KIBBLE.. Its not as hard as you think.. i started feeding it and it just kinda came together. Simple steps to fallow Meat, Bones, Organs, and a small amout of veg.
Once you start and see the difference its really a wonder kibble is even arround or was ever created.it
Dr. Billinghurst describes BARF this way:
“BARF is about feeding dogs properly. The aim of BARF is to maximize the health, longevity and reproductive capacity of dogs and by so doing, minimize the need for veterinary intervention. How do you feed a dog properly? You feed it the diet that it evolved to eat. ... Artificial grain based dog foods cause innumerable health problems. They are not what your dog was programmed to eat during its long process of evolution. A biologically appropriate diet for a dog is one that consists of raw whole foods similar to those eaten by the dogs’ wild ancestors. The food fed must contain the same balance and type of ingredients as consumed by those wild ancestors. This food will include such things as muscle meat, bone, fat, organ meat and vegetable materials and any other foods that will mimic what was those wild ancestors ate.”
This category of dog food is by far the most popular choice amongst us dog owners. Commercial dog food is so convenient and reasonably priced - but what are the long term implications of feeding it to our dogs, and is it really value for money?
The sad truth is that most commercial dog food products (regardless of what fancy name is printed on the label) are Crap - these big companies are taking us for a ride. It's bad enough that they are happy to deceive us and rip us off blind, but the thing that really gets to me is that they appear to have no regard whatsoever for the health or wellbeing of our dogs.
Not all commercial dog foods are killing our dogs - just most of them. Most of these products are woefully deficient in key nutrients and are chock full of toxic rubbish and fillers (like grain) that provide no nutritional benefit to our dogs.
Some of the ingredients hiding behind the fancy labeling and fuzzy feel good marketing tactics are: Indigestible waste products, colors, dyes, toxins, pesticides, chemicals, harmful preservatives (BHA, BHT and Ethoxyquin) and antibiotics. It doesn't stop there, then you've got a wide range of dead, diseased, disabled or dying animals prior to their visit to the slaughter house added to the mix. You may even find some so called animal "by-products" and some recently euthanized pet cats or dogs and horses. Basically all of the rubbish that other industries can't or won't use can end up in your dog's dinner bowl. To top it all off any nutrition that is present in this toxic cocktail is then ruined by the cooking processes used.
Just imagine if you or I were able to lay all of the contents of a typical commercial dog food product out on a table in front of us. I've got no doubt we would be at first surprised, then disgusted and angry - have you ever tried to read the label on a can of dog food?
As for feeding raw, its a broad term some feed more of a prey type diet which closly mimiks what they would eat in the wild like raw meaty bones others prefer the comercialized pre packedge raw that is ground up with everything in it. When it come to veg you will find that most raw feeders will very in there opinions as well. mainly a raw diet is the way nature intended dogs to get their nutrition. A raw dog food diet is as an "all natural" diet as ingredients are generally free from chemicals, preservatives, additives, by-products and fillers (like worthless grains).
as for meat that can range as well from chicken to pork, rabbit, lamb, kangaroo, elk, beef, bison, duck, and the list goes on. most raw bones are ok, just make sure they are the approriat size for your dog. there are no bones that are to big just to small. Organs like liver, heart, kidney, Tripe ect are a key part to a healthy balanced diet as well, also great are sea greens, eggs, some veg and so much more. it provides the enzyme rich nutrients and amino acids in a perfect unaltered state .
Many NR links on the link page
